Mother Hoodwink

I'll be the one in the corner of the party, bawling.

I think it happened. I think Boomba is officially weaned from breastfeeding. At around nine months he was down to three nursing sessions a day. Last month we replaced his afternoon session with cow's milk, which he loved. So he would only nurse first thing in the morning and right before bed. Honestly though, I knew the one in the morning was for my benefit more than his. I would nurse him in bed and while he ate, I got a few extra minutes of sleep and sometimes, Boomba would fall back asleep too. In the last few weeks Boomba's bedtime feedings were getting shorter and shorter. Last night he refused the breast all together.

He has never refused, not once. If there is anything my child can do well, it's eat. So instead of nursing him, I read him some books and put him to bed. I figured he didn't nurse because we had dinner late and he was full from that. But still, I couldn't help but feel a little hurt and rejected.

This morning Dim got up to get Boomba and bring him back to bed with us like normal. He refused my breast again. Not completely. He took a few sips but definitely not enough for him to feel satisfied. It's as if he was just being polite about it. Like he didn't want to be rude and not at least taste the milk I had prepared for him homemade.

Where has my baby gone? His first birthday is in fifteen days. When Boomba was born so many people told me to savor the time when he was a little baby. We totally didn't though. All we talked about was how cool it would be when he started walking and talking. And although those things are cool, I wish I could hold my tiny baby again.

I really didn't think I would get so sad when his birthday rolled around, but I am. I can't believe that he doesn't even need to nurse before bed. I thought that would be the hardest for him to get over since it brought so much comfort to him. I, clearly, was wrong. He needs no comfort from me. I bet the whole day, he's just thinking of that damn frog and how he can't wait to snuggle with it. That frog has stolen my baby.

A post with a lot of "!"s

Boomba's bedtime is at seven every night. I put him to bed last night and it is now 8:30. He has slept for twelve and a half hours! I'm actually awake before him! Dim checked on him when he woke up at seven this morning and he was breathing. So at least we could relax a little. I still couldn't go back to sleep because I kept thinking he would wake up any moment. But he hasn't! I've been able to get up to pee and brush my teeth at my own leisure! I don't know when I was last able to do that.

I heard him whining a bit and by the time I got back to his bedroom, he had stopped. He opened his eyes and blinked a few times then fell back asleep! I don't understand this at all, but I'm a very happy Mama this morning.

Oh, crap. What if he's getting sick? No, I won't think that. positive thinking. Mind over matter. Always works for me. Maybe I'm strong enough to mind over Boomba's matter.

Oh.My.God!

Out of nowhere Boomba has started taking naps in his crib. We usually have to rock and hold him for his naps. So anywhere from two to four hours of my day are spent holding a sleeping baby.

Ever since Boomba was about four months old, we tried to introduce a security item to him. I think we went through four of them. None of them took. It was well established that I was his security item.

A couple of months ago I was at Target and thought I would get Boomba a cute stuffed animal for Valentine's Day. Boomba sat in the cart as I picked one out. I found a cute stuffed frog and showed it to Boomba to see if he would like it. He giggled incessantly whenever I got it close to him. I threw it in the cart and saved it for Valentine's.

After we gave it to him, he played with it constantly. He loved it. We thought it would be a good idea to start giving it to him at night. It took about three nights and all of a sudden, all he needed to go to sleep was his stuffed frog. He started sleeping through the night again. This could also be because he hasn't been currently teething. Either way, I'm glad he's sleeping.

After about a month of having Boomba sleep with his frog, I decided one day to just put him in his crib for his nap. Just to see if he would just go to sleep. I know. Crazy. Well to my astonishment, it worked. He didn't go to sleep immediately. Instead he sat in his crib quietly and played with his fish aquarium for about thirty minutes. Then he just laid down, snuggled his frog and slept for an hour and a half! Who is this child? I tried this again for his afternoon nap and the same thing happened! I'm almost sure the apocalypse is coming.

When Dim got home I told him about Boomba napping. He asked me what I did with my new free time. I replied, "Duh. What every mother experiencing this for the first time does. I kept running back to his bedroom and peeking at him. Oh and I took pictures."

Boomba only uses a binky to go to sleep. He's not interested in them when he's not sleepy. I'm guessing it's because it gets in the way when he's shoving random crap found under the couch into his mouth. Yesterday morning I was on the couch checking my email when I feel this light little pat on my arm. I looked up and saw Boomba with a binky in his mouth staring up at me. He must have found a binky that was probably hidden amongst his toys. I swear I haven't seen this binky for at least two weeks.

So let me get this straight. He went from having tantrums and falling on the floor in a crying heap when tired to popping a binky in his mouth and calmly letting me know with a gentle pat, that he was ready for a nap? WTF?

I find it hard to believe that this stuffed frog changed everything. I mean it didn't right? This has to be a coincidence. Maybe it's because he's getting older. His first birthday is next month after all.

It's been four days of Boomba taking his naps in his crib. I guess this is how it will be. I have to say it's bittersweet. I'm so happy that he has enough independence to sleep by himself in broad daylight and without being jostled at all. But I'd be lying if I said I don't miss holding him close to me and listening to him breathe. I may be more upset, though, that a ratty frog has replaced me as Boomba's security item.

Why can't we just be born with teeth?

Boomba is cutting four of his top teeth right now and it is so painful. I'm sure Boomba doesn't feel well either. My usually happy and relaxed baby is so grumpy all the time. He's screaming at us and I'm sure if he could talk he would tell us to quit with all of our bitching about everyday things when he is dealing with four sharp ass teeth ripping through his gums. Last night was the first time as a mom that I felt completely helpless. He woke up after about two hours after we put him to bed. He would not calm down. We usually don't take him out of his crib when he wakes at night. But last night we had to. He was inconsolable.

I handed him off to Dim while I got some Tylenol for his aching teeth. Boomba usually LOVES Tylenol. He kept turning his head and wouldn't let me get the dropper in his mouth. This alone scared me. I had Dim give him back to me because if all else fails, Mama can always calm him down. ALWAYS. Except last night. This scared me even more.

When Boomba was a few months younger, and Dim and I were very very desperate, we would make Boomba a bottle and let him fall asleep with it. Everyone would be happy. So last night I suggested we make him a bottle to calm him down. Dim made the bottle and when he gave it to Boomba, Boomba snatched his binky out of his mouth and threw it to the ground and excitedly reached for the bottle. That told us that he wanted it. But he wouldn't put it to his mouth and instead cried out with such a desperate face. We went back and forth with this for about fifteen minutes before I realized that Boomba hasn't had a bottle for about two months. Dim put the milk in a sippy cup and Boomba immediately gulped it down. I should of just nursed him since I held him while he drank anyways, but I didn't want to waste the formula. After he finished his nightcap, we laid him in his crib and he went right to sleep. Whew! My first "What the fuck is going on?" mom moment and I lived. 

New Fangled Technology

Boomba had a great first Christmas. One of his big gifts was a Magic Rattle 'n Ride Pooh. Dim and I Santa thought Boomba would love this toy. Let me explain it to you, if you're not up to date on your Winnie the Pooh products. Basically it's Pooh Bear sitting on his turtle friend. When the baby shakes the rattle that comes with it, Pooh starts to sing and clap while his tired and used turtle friend walks around, undoubtedly trying to sway hard enough to knock off his slave master friend.

Dim and I sat one afternoon with Boomba playing with this toy. We tried to get Boomba to shake the rattle. While teaching him, Dim and I discussed how Pooh knew the rattle had been shaken. We mulled over our different theories. One being some sort of motion sensor in the rattle, because at first we thought that Pooh was steering his turtle toward the rattle. He wasn't. His turtle friend was just on some wayward path wondering why he had a bear perched atop his shell singing. Dim and I decided that it was obviously something high tech that we were unable to comprehend.

A little later on we were still on the floor with Boomba. Pooh had just finished one of his songs while his poor turtle friend looked on defeated. Boomba crawled over to Pooh and in mid reach, Boomba farted. Loud. To our amazement Pooh and his turtle friend started up their routine and scooted away from us. Ok, so it wasn't as high tech as we had thought. For thirty bucks I guess we can't expect more than sound activation. It's just a glorified Clapper. Motion sensors... we're dumb.